Bocombe Mill Cottage

In 2015 the 5 acres of Bocombe Mill Cottage Garden will, for the tenth year, be open exclusively for the benefit of the National Gardens Scheme (NGS). All of the money from our Admission Charges and sales of Homemade Teas go directly to the NGS, which supports charities such as Macmillan Cancer Support and many more. Our open days are:

The whole Bank Holiday weekend at the end of May, that’s Saturday 23rd, Sunday 24th and Monday 25th May. From 12 noon to 5pm.
Plus, in June, Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th at the same times

If you're a group of 10 or more you can make an appointment for visits with guided tours from the beginning of March until the end of September.

We first saw Castor Oil plants (Ricinus communis) in India, growing luxuriantly tall on wasteland. These plants with glossy leaves, deeply lobed on long stalks, have been used in bedding out for many decades. They’re popular again in the red cultivars now available. For the past 10 years we’ve grown these (green) architectural plants. Whilst they’re perennials they’re also tender, so don’t survive in the UK. The seeds are contained in a shiny green to reddish spiny capsule, and whilst the seed (often called a bean, which it is not) is used to produce Castor Oil, the raw seed is highly poisonous!

Tucked away among our thousands of trees is a Hermitage where Simon the Hermits lives. When approached he’s a friendly chap and will cheerfully show you round his Hermitage and adjacent Shell Grotto. Having lived in the valley at Bocombe, as he says “since before time began”, he’s very knowledgeable about the Mystery of St Bocombe, and the rest of the world!

Visit the gardens at Bocombe Mill Cottage to explore what many an Estate owner in the 18th century paid handsomely for – a live Hermit! Check Simon out here,